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Urvashi Dholakia With a string of serials to her credit - , Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zamana Badal Gaya, Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Kabhi Souten Kabhi Saheli and the recent Kasutii Zindagi Kii to her credit, Urvashi is fast coming one of the most identified faces in the industry. Besides bankable looks the lady has an attitude to match ; she is also quick to proclaim that she is a complete misfit in this 'double faced ' industry. Her sojourn in telly land began officially when she was just 14 with Dekh Bhai Dekh. Now , at 24 ,she claims she is ready to perform any character that she wants to. She walks in with an unmistakable dancer's gait that speaks of her long training as a Bharatnatyam dancer, on the sets of a lavish Balaji serial , where she agreed to speak in between shots with indiantelevision's Trupti Ghag. Excerpts - Despite your young age, you have been around for a long time in the television indstry? It all began when I was just six years old. It was my fascination with the screen that led to me persuading my mother to help me begin my career as a child model. Was the screen your only learning ground or did you attend any acting classes? Well, not really. I never had any time for all that. I began acting when I was 11. I performed with Nadira Babbar's theatre group Ekjute, but the stint only lasted three months but I guess that did it. I was already hooked on to the profession. Then came ABCL's Dekh Bhai Dekh when I was 14 years old and since then I haven't stopped. I am 24 now. Do you regret not attending acting classes? No, I think I turned out just fine. How was it acting with a huge star cast in Dekh Bhai Dekh? If you are talking in terms of experience, it was great. It was shot on foreign locales, the camera technique used was very novel too. I was quite happy with the exposure and publicity. As Sanju's girlfriend Shilpa, I must have been mentioned in most of the earlier episodes so by the time I was introduced in the 17th episode, viewers were pretty curious to know me. I was the surprise element of the sitcom. What acting method do you adopt while enacting a scene? Do you go by the script? Script comes second, it's always the character that comes first. I need a precise brief about the character I am playing. I then get into the psyche of the character and plainly narrate the lines. It sounds quite easy but then I need two to three days to get into the skin of the character. Are you are a director's actor? I am more of an intuitive actor. "Script comes second, its character first always" How was your role as Kamolika arranged? I was acting in Kabhie Souten Kabhi Saheli, a Balaji production during the time when Ektaa Kapoor was scouting for new talent. I entered her cabin and she called me Kamolika. That was about it. She then etched out the entire character for me. It seemed like an interesting role so I agreed to do Kasautii Zindagi Kay. What is your favourite character till date? That will be the character of 'Pooja' I played in Mehndi Tere Naam Kii. It showcases all possible shades of a character, right from a bubbly carefree teenager who transforms into an ambitious go-getter to a rebel and finally metamorphoses into a mature woman. What went into the role of Kamolika? Like I said, Ektaa briefed me about the character, then we discussed it in great detail. It is a tradition at Balaji, that both Ektaa and Shobhaji sit with the team and explain each character. Ektaa enacted a few scenes to let me know how the character would behave and I got a clearer picture. When I reached the set, I already had a picture of Kamolika in my mind so I simply went by my instincts and acted as I thought she would. It seems like you are opting only for serials made by Balaji Telefilms? Is there any specific reason for this? Not at all. I would love to act under a different banner but I haven't got any good offers. At Balaji, when I sign up for a character, I am assured of a fair deal. They have faith in me and I share the same feeling. They have given me roles where I can perform. Your roles range from an innocent teenager to a vamp. How did this transition come about? Smooth sailing so far. The only thing that I am afraid of is being typecast, to an extent I think I already am. "Balaji Telefilms have given me roles where I can perform" Does that mean you are not too happy with your role in 'Kasautii...' ? Don't get me wrong, I think Kasautii.... did wonders for me. In fact, I can say that many people recognised me as a good actress after Kasautii...But I cannot Identify with that character, there is so much to me than Kamolika. I just want to present that to people. The character of Kamolika is currently sharing a platform with that of Menaka in 'Kasautii...'. Do you feel threatened? Of course not. Kamolika is a strong character. She may be shrewd but she is certainly not stupid and plus, she has already established herself. I think it should be other way round. What do you think about the 'saas-bahu' serials on air? What about them? I think they are quite well made. I don't see people relating to the characters in the soaps. Isn't it time that these serials pave a way for something more realistic? I don't see why. Despite being period dramas, Mahabharata and Ramayana are very popular on television. All the current soaps are loved by the audience. As long as they accept it, I see no reason to change. As for the niche audiences, there are other serials on air to suit their tastes. What projects are you working on in the near future? I am contracted for two years with Balaji Telefilms. Besides Kasautii, they have also signed me for a new serial Kahani Teri Meri, in which I play a catty girl 'Kajol'. This again revolves around a Bengali affluent family but the storyline is completely different from Kasautii... Is there a crossover to Bollywood on the cards? No, I think Bollywood is not yet ready for good talent (Laughs) . Seriously speaking, I think the film industry has a mind block. It is not willing to accept actors from television yet Krutika Desai Krutika Desai - a Cancerian-Gemini cusp, whose linguistic skills and liberalised outlook complement her dusky sensuous look. Liberalised because on-screen as well as off it, she has strayed from the routine to plunge into unknown terrain. Still, she is conservative at heart and more of a family person. Krutika gives a lot of importance to family values but she admits that her near ones too sometimes don't understand her; perhaps shades of eccentriciity often associated with her star-sign! Desai was one of the early birds who jumped into the TV bandwagon during what she calls was boom time in the 1980s. Some of the serials she has worked on are Buniyaad, Chandrakanta, Zameen Aasmaan, Kismet, Hungama, Superhit Muqabla, A Mouthful of Sky and Mansi. Desai has done two feature films - one in Hindi and another in Bengali. She will be traveling to Israel for an English cross-over film in February 2003. She admits that she would love to do more feature films but wants to restrict her appearance on theatre and TV shows. However, Desai has been appreciated in the role of Roopali Roopchand (Zee's Lipstick) and Devanshi (Sony's Kkusum) and her fan mail seems to be increasing day by day. Desai spoke to indiantelevision.com's Ashwin Kotian. Excerpts: Tell us about 'Lipstick'? How did you bag the role? Lipstick, the name itself is daringly different. It is a never-before show on Indian television. It was conceived with the intent of shocking the middle class sensibilities and presenting an unadulterated view of the upper class. It was a bold theme and telecast appropriately in the 11 pm time slot. It is a departure from the run-of-the-mill fare and examined various issues like homosexuality and extramarital relationships. Zee is very particular about the actors who are chosen for roles in the serials telecast on the channel. For the role of Roopali in Lipstick, Shrishti Arya (the producer) had already shot some scenes with two different actors. Zee's programming team wasn't happy with the results and they urged Shrishti to look for someone else. The character Rupali is a pretty complex one - never played on TV before. It is the role of a fading actress who is on her way down. But she never accepts defeat and tries her best to rise to the top. It was then that the producers approached me. "Roopali is a vain and hysterical woman. Unwilling to accept middle age and maturity gracefully. Roopali is known for her promiscuity and drinking problem" Krutika Desai on her role in 'Lipstick' Can you tell us about your character Roopali in 'Lipstick'? Roopali Roopchand is a star - in the true sense of the word. She comes from a traditional middle class family and has paid dearly for her success. But it was a price she did not mind paying. Till recently the most sought after heroined in the industry, today she finds newcomers like Kanchan Kumari have taken over her mantle.But Roopali is not prepared to let go. She thinks she can pull her career for another 10 years at least. Roopali is a vain and hysterical woman, who is unwilling to accept middle age and maturity gracefully. Roopali is known for her promiscuity and drinking problem. She uses her connections in gossip columns to make headlines for herself, and to spread malice for others. She thinks gossip will make her look younger in the eyes of the public. She is on the verge of schizophrenia and is paranoid about grey hair and wrinkling skin. Mention of younger actresses can send her into a flying temper. Her tantrums are growing by the day and she is losing her grip on her career. What kind of effort went into the creating the persona for Roopali? Zee's programming team, the producer, the fashion designer Fabiya and I experimented a lot with the look and feel of the character. In the beginning, we decided to adopt a western look. Later, we decided to try out the Indian look with a saree. We decided to use a lot of jewellery and different wigs. When the programming team saw the rushes, they liked me in a saree as it depicted someone who is modern as well as traditional in the same vein. Finally, we crystallized on a mix in which I wore sarees, sleeveless blouses and several additional props. It is indeed how a modern Indian woman looks, talks and behaves. The efforts that we made have been successful and the audience identifies with my depiction of the role. I have received feedback that the audience actually waits for my scenes. Even today, there are so many twists and turns as the character is evolving. Rupali has become more involved with the new man in her life. "By TV standards, it was a bold thing to do.." Krutika on the scene in 'Lipstick' where she is accosted by an intruder while taking a shower Can you recount any memorable incident that happened during the shooting of 'Lipstick'? I still remember the second day of shooting in the first schedule. The scene involved my character Roopali being accosted by an intruder while she is taking a shower. By TV standards, it was a bold thing to do and my producers made it clear that they would go ahead with the scene only with my permission. I was apprehensive initially but changed my mind later. I felt that there is a need to try out new and different things. Someone would do it for television eventually, so why couldn't I don the mantle of ushering in something offbeat? The shoot happened in a small AC studio and the water had become too cold for comfort. When the scene started rolling, I realized that the water was actually freezing. Within minutes, my teeth were chattering and my director Bhushan rushed to me with a towel. He was afraid that I would get pneumonia and wanted to complete the sequence as soon as possible. Two cameras were used and mercifully my co-actor also cooperated. Later on, I got a congratulatory call from Bhushan who was seeing the rushes at the editing table. He told me that it was fabulous scene and I had delivered exactly what he had in mind. Tell us about your recent entry into the 'Kkusum' storyline, which has been hyped up in the promos? In Kkusum, my character Devanshi keeps everyone guessing. Devanshi took viewers by surprise when she arrived on the scene almost suddenly. Even now, my fans and people I meet ask me whether I am linked to Siddarth or Vikas Bhalla or someone else. There is a certain amount of intrigue and mystique around Devanshi. Sometimes, she appears so very nice and good; at other times, she seems to be conniving and manipulating. At any point of time, she seems to have something up her sleeve. Balaji's creative team and the producer Ekta Bahri have really worked hard on the character, her portrayal, her look and the hype around her entry. Here again, the look is very traditional but glamourous - and I use a lot of heavy jewellery. "My life doesn't revolve around acting as I feel that there are different dimensions to my persona" Krutika on herself Are you different from the characters you portray? I am passionate about my home and my privacy. My life doesn't revolve around acting as I feel that there are different dimensions to my persona. There is a broader spectrum which includes my hobbies like reading, cooking and traveling. I see myself as a housewife, as a mother as much as I see myself as an actress. I have become very selective in choosing my roles. I love wearing western clothes - preferably jeans, T-shirts and tracks. I don't like frills. I love traveling and getting glimpses into the diverse cultures of places I visit. For instance, I would love to go to Egypt as against New York. I would love to go to Northern Thailand; basically I am a mountain person and not a beach person. I enjoy taking long walks in the forests and spending my time amidst nature.I also love river rafting as I find it to be a stimulating experience. As far as food is concerned, I am vegetarian and stay away from fried food. I love cooking and try out different recipes; but I prefer to eat simple plain food. Have things changed since you started your TV stint? Seven years ago, things were very different. It was peak time in terms of money and job satisfaction. There were fewer channels - primarily DD1 and DD metro channels; lesser serials and everyone used to watch the serials on air. Acting in serials had a certain charm and exclusivity. Due to all these reasons, there was a greater amount of fame and star value - as we used to call it. People who acted in those serials were major stars and became famous almost overnight. In those days, I used to work on as many as seven shows on DD and later Zee - Buniyaad, Chandrakanta, Zameen Aasmaan, Kismet, Hungama, Superhit Muqabla, A Mouthful of Sky and Mansi. These days, everyone is doing TV and serials are dime a dozen. Everybody doesn't watch all the serials - some people don't watch anything at all and have shifted loyalties to other types of shows. The working conditions have deteriorated. Earlier, we used to have our own make-up man, attendant and room. Currently, TV actors don't get even the basic amenities; unless they demand and bargain for a better deal from the producers. Earlier we used to do three to four scenes and in the present scenario, eight or even nine scenes are the order of the day. There is so much more stress that one can actually feel it. The difference in attitude is so clearly visible in terms of the hectic pace of work - everything and everyone seems to suggest "Do it fast and then take on more work"! "The working conditions have deteriorated. Earlier we used to have our own make-up man, attendant and room. Currently, TV actors and actresses don't get even the basic amenities; unless they demand and bargain a better deal from the producers" Krutika on how things have changed in the TV industry What are the current projects you are working on? Last year, I did a Gujarati play Shodh Pratishodh which won rave reviews and accolades from the masses as well as the classes. We did 125 shows in four months - a record by itself. I plan to do one play every year but I shall be very selective about my roles and characters. I have done two films Insaaf (mainstream commercial film) and a Bengali film Dastak (very different and offbeat). I shall be going off to Israel to shoot for an English feature film. It's about an Indian couple settling down in an alien country and coping with the differences in culture. On TV, I am currently working with Zee and Sony. There are some offers and I am exploring the opportunities. Purab Kohli He's a recent entrant to the world of hysteria ridden Fridays , public adulation and screen glamour. Purab Kohli' s venture into Bollywood with Bas Yun Hi is a natural progression for the model turned anchor. The Channel [V] anchor has waltzed his way through serials, ads and innovative shows on V with equall finesse. His kitty includes Zee's Hip Hip Hurray, B4U's Sangharsh, apart from ads like Compaq Presario, Colgate, Amaron Batteries and Pizza Hut. Purab met up with indiantelevision.com's Trupti Ghag at a suburban coffee joint for an interview. Excerpts: When and how did you break into television? I never really thought about working on television. While still in college, I seriously contemplated training as a pilot. But as luck would have it, my uncle suggested that I audition for a role in his friends' (Vinay Pathak and Nupur Asthana), television serial for Zee Hip Hip Hurray. I was 18 at that time and my first reaction was "yikes! a Hindi television serial, that's so uncool". Nonetheless, I landed up at the producer's place with a few friends in tow. I had told my friends I would just walk out in five minutes after turning down the offer, but returned 45 minutes later with a role in my hand and some really mad friends to face. How did you prepare for the role? Did you take any acting lessons ? Since all of us were novices, Nupur and Vinay had arranged for a 15 days acting workshop. That fortnight was quite a big help. I still use most of the learnings I imbibed during those times. I never enrolled for any acting classes. Never really felt the need to do so till date. I might if I am required to do so. "Channel [V] has been very supportive of my work and I have been slogging too" How did the Bollywood venture happen? My acting career may have just happened by chance, but I never took it lightly. After being an actor, a veejay and a model, the next step was the big screen. Padam Kumar, the director of Supari, approached me with a role two and half years ago but I was very skeptical at that time. After some convincing, I did agree to do the film. The movie was supposed to be my debut film, but the movie got stuck. That was the beginning of a bleak period in my life. Care to tell us something more about it? Well, Supari was supposed to be my launch vehicle but unfortunately the movie got into some problems. Other producers thought it would be risky to take me on for another project as I was not a bankable star and I could also not sport the 'film debutante' tag (sighs). Then how was the role in 'Bas Yun Hi' arranged? This is an interesting tale. Raja Menon, Bas Yun Hi 's director was scouting for faces and he liked me in the Compaq Presario ad. My sister and Raja's wife Anu used to go to the same gym. Anu just happened to tell my sister that Raja was trying to contact Purab. It was then that my sister offered to help out and asked me to speak to Raja (grins). By then, I was quite disillusioned with the industry and so as soon as the meeting was arranged, I told him about Supari. He was nonchalant about it. He began to talk about the part that he was to offer me. And here I am as Aditya in Bas Yun Hi. " I do not put on an act when I am presenting a show. I behave and react just the way I normally would" You are still very much a part of the Channel [V] veejay brigade. How did you manage both? Did the channel make some special concessions for you? Channel [V] has been very supportive of my work and I have been slogging too. I usually try and work round the clock to complete the assignments. I guess if I am not there either Yudi or Gaurav will take over. Since they are also doing some projects besides Channel[V] and I fill in for them when required, it's more of a mutual deal than a special concession. Do you take a pay cut for it? No! We have a yearly contract and a fixed pay packet. We are paid per month and not per shoot so I have no problems in that department. But I guess the next change in my contract, this June-July, will have a change in terms from my side. Since I am also planning to do a few more movie projects, I will probably want a few changes in terms as well. You have been working in television, in the ad world and now in the movie industry as well. How different is one job from another? Very different. I do not put on an act when I am presenting a show. I behave and react just the way I normally would. So you can say that it comes naturally to me. As for acting, be it in movies or in serials, it is a long learning process for me. I like rehearsals, I take inputs from my directors and people that I think know what they say. Television incorporates bits of everything, be it theatre or the big screen. Movies, on the other hand, have a different appeal, the reach though selective ensures immediate fame. "The project is the director's baby he has to decide what to do with it. If you butt in every time it is just curbing the directors creativity" Tell us something about your role in 'Bas Yun Hi'. How did perform the part? What kind of preparation went into it? Bas Yun Hi was conceptualized as a movie catering to urban sensibilities. It was something that you and I as city youth can relate to. I play the lead character 'Aditya', a typical guy next door. He is a fun person, a smooth talker. Bas Yun Hi narrates the story of five friends in their late twenties. The story is spread over a period of 10 days when their lives are suddenly transported into a flurry of activities after one of them (that's me) plays a prank. Aditya is not an all white character, he has a grey side as well. He is an attention seeker and quite nasty at times. While playing the part, I therefore tried and remembered that all the time. What really helped me perform was Raja's narration. He fleshed out the character for me, explained the mannerisms, the talking style. I just took it from there. By the time we actually began shooting, all of us had become great pals. We had spent a good amount of time discussing our roles and so when the cameras rolled, we just became those characters. What about 'Supari'? Supari is an out and out commercial film. Padam Kumar convinced me to take up the role two years back. The movie is about a group of contract killers coming to terms with their lives. I play a character called 'Chicken'. The only similarity the movie has with Bas... is that Nandita is in the movie too. It is a dark film. My role is that of a guy who constantly seeks assurance, he is a very insecure person. I received a character brief and I worked on it, discussed it with my costars Uday Chopra, Rahul Dev and AkashDeep Sehgal. We meet up both on and off sets with the director and tried to know every character, their habits. What was left was just spilling it all out before the camera. Would you call yourself a director's actor? Absolutely! I think it is best to take lessons from them, it is so much more systematic. The project is the director's baby - he has to decide what to do with it. If you butt in every time, it could just curb the director's creativity. It is not as if I just behave like a puppet, I do give in my inputs if I feel it will add to the scene. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you watch yourself on the screen? Eeeks! I go through various stages of discomfort (laughs). There has never been a time that I am totally satisfied with the performance. You could call it an over critical approach. While shooting for [V], I normally avoid looking at the rushes, if the director is okay with it, I am just fine. But I am dead serious about my career as an actor. I would call myself a learning-every-minute actor. How do you you think your actor's portfolio should look like a few years from now? I am not comfortable doing certain kind of roles and I definitely would not be doing them. Neither would I play tough and only stick to the lead roles. I don't mind playing the second lead as long as it is exciting and sensible. Besides Bas Yun Hi and Supari, I am looking forward to another movie that is a father and son relationship story. "There is no dearth of good programmes on air...there is something for everybody. " Who are the directors you like working with? Prasoon Pandey, Raja Menon,Padam Kumar...I just love the way these guys operate...very systematic and extremely creative. You started off as a television actor, are you planing to make a comeback sometime soon? Hey, I did a guest appearance in Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, doesn't that count! (smiles) I would like to do some more television. The main problem with me is that I get bored too soon. I just simply love doing ad films, couple of days and viola!.. the film is ready. I need to be excited and enthusiastic about the project all the time, I work on impulse. What do you think about the current television scenario? Do you think enough quality work is being done? Television as a medium per se is quite new, if you are comparing it with the television abroad it would be unfair. As for the choice of subjects, believe me there is a large audience for such shows. There is no dearth of good programmes on air...there is something for everybody. What is your wish list for the future? Nobody is ever satisfied with whatever they get, they always want more. The list is going to be changing constantly. When I got a pay check of Rs 3500 for a job during college, I was thrilled but then I wished I had some more. I was chosen as a veejay and my paycheck showed Rs 25,000 and I still wasn't satisfied. Now that I think about it, may be I need to be contented with whatever I have. Ali Asgar His entry into television was purely accidental. He was only 15 years old then. Thereafter, he did many serials but his moment under the sun kept eluding him... until one fine day when Balaji saga Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii fell into his lap. Today, he is a household name. Ali Asgar- the Kamal Agarwal of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii- who bears an uncanny resemblance to Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor in his younger days, says, "Serials have given me recognition. But I don't want to restrict myself to the tube. I am lured by the big screen. I will continue to do serials but ensure that these projects do not block my dates of the entire month. I am getting film offers," he begins his tete a tete with Vickey Lalwani. What's so exciting about films? Let's face it. Serials cannot give you the fame and fortune which films can. So I can't keep looking at the creative aspect of my career only. I have to take the commercial aspect into account. But I will never make films my sole domain. My roots lie in television and I will never pluck my roots out. Currently, I am working in Vikram Bhatt's forthcoming film Aitbaar starring Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham and Bipasha Basu. I play Bipasha's close friend. John misunderstands that Bipasha and I are having an affair. Then I am doing Shakil Noorani's Jaan Ki Baazi starring Sunjay Dutt and Mahima Chaudhary, which is an extension of his earlier film Joroo Ka Ghulam. Some years ago, I did a small role in F C Mehra's Chamatkar starring Naseeruddin Shah and Shah Rukh Khan. "Comedy is the most difficult thing to enact, but Indians neither understand nor appreciate it. That's a tragedy. Somehow, they like to cry very often" Do you agree that an actor should avoid exposure on television if he wants to make a mark in films? A new face that's well presented gives a fresh look to a film. There's no denying that, but the bottom line is that if the film is good, it will work. Whether the actor is a television actor does not matter. Are you doing only 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii' presently? No. I am doing Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's comedy serial Allah Meri Tauba for Urdu ETV. Soon, I am starting to shoot for a Rakesh Sarang directed weekly for Star Plus. Rewind. Trace your evolution as an actor? It just happened in 1987 when I was in the tenth standard. I had taken part in a few plays in school, but just for the heck of it. I never wanted to make acting my profession. My younger brother and I were cycling near Sea Rock Hotel in Bandra where director Rajiv Mehra was shooting for his film Jaal. My brother was stopped by the film unit and asked to report for an audition, the next day. At that time, Rajiv was not present on the sets. My father took him along to the Eagle Films' office, and I too joined in. Rajiv thought that my brother was too young to play the role he had in mind, and instead asked me to take part in the audition. A few days later, I got a call saying that I had been selected for a serial Ek Do Teen Chaar which would be loosely based on Enid Blyton's Famous Five adventure stories. Since the main cast comprised of kids, the shooting was kept in such a manner that it did not clash with the school timings and examination schedule. So 'Ek Do Teen Chaar' was the bug that induced the acting itch in you? No. Actually, I had put Ek Do Teen Chaar behind me after it got over. I had got down to serious studying for Hotel Management. I was aiming to make a career in the restaurant business in a foreign land. I had even received an appointment letter from a foreign restaurant. At the last minute, my parents broke down, saying that they will not be able to bear the separation. I started considering other avenues. According to me, hotel management as a career in India is not rewarding enough. "If my character who never goes against his parents has mended the ways of even one person who had lost his way in this regard, I will be the happiest man in this world" Then? The satellite boom had amassed high proportions, those days. I decided to experiment with TV serials, as I had done one before. I approached some serial makers, and luckily, work started coming in. As on date, I have done Gharonda, Do Aur Do Paanch, Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Parampara, Kartavya, Karz, Chashme Buddoor, Khatta Meetha, Itihaas, Kutumb, and of course, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. I will never forget the day Ekta Kapoor tossed me the role of Kamal Agarwal when I approached her for work after finishing my assignment in her Itihaas. Why couldn't you register, or say, leave an impact, with the serials you did before 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii'? In most of those serials, and even the films Chamatkar and Joroo Ka Ghulam, I did comedy. Comedy is the most difficult thing to enact, but Indians neither understand nor appreciate it. That's a tragedy. Somehow, they like to cry very often. They empathize with the positive character who is wronged by society, very strongly. They are attached to my character Kamal Agarwal who is taken for a ride by his wife Pallavi (Shweta Kawaatra) and yet continues to be supportive to his elders. What attracted you to the character in 'Kahaani....'? The character's simplicity, simply. I am enjoying playing someone who is absent in today's world. Hasn't the sacrificing guy become an exception? Where are the guys who look beyond their own nose and place their family's interests before their own? The parent-child relationship is the only relationship left which can boast of selfless love. How many of us treasure this relation? Love between a man and woman is materialistic. I am saying this from a personal experience, which has left scars. If my character who never goes against his parents has mended the ways of even one person who had lost his way in this regard, I will be the happiest man in this world. In fact, I am. I am sure that someone or the other must have has idolised Kamal Agarwal of Kahaanii..... .Today, television has a wider reach and a bigger audience than cinema. Importantly, television acts on subliminal levels far more than cinema does. "I never get jittery before a difficult scene" How much do you identify with this role? Completely. If whatever happens with my character happens with me in real life, I will do exactly what I have done in the serial. Like, I would certainly marry the girl which my brother can't marry at the last minute. My parents, brother and sister would be my first priority. How involved are you with your clothes and look in your serials? That is one thing I am very involved with. Unless that is not done properly, the characterization is incomplete. It is also nice to know that many channels these days take a special interest in all the characters and their clothes. It helps a lot to know that you are looking good. It straightaway enhances the character and adds to an actor's confidence level. What do you feel is your strength as an actor? My strength lies in the fact that I never get jittery before a difficult scene. At the risk of sounding boastful, may I say that I can portray the most difficult shot in a light manner and make the character seem like an everyday character. I claim that I can never be melodramatic. Many serials of Ekta Kapoor are not doing well, but 'Kahaani....' continues to hold sway. Why? This is primarily because this serial propagates strong moral values which were present in our culture until recently. These days, however, India has no culture left. The elder generation is perturbed at the way it is being treated by its children. So, our target audience is the elderly folk. They are being told through this serial that they have a voice which needs to be raised against the ill-treatment meted out to them. The other day, Dipak Kazir (Babuji) and I were stopped by a 50-plus man who told Kazir that he was gaining a lot through Kazir's portrayal as the head of the family. How much homework do you put in before every portrayal? So far, I haven't got to act in a historic serial which requires a lot of reading and makeup to get into the skin of the character (laughs). I am a switch-on-switch-off actor. I never take my lines home, though at times I have been offered to. I simply come on the sets, take my lines, sit in a corner, and am ready in some time. I don't judge my performance on the sets. That's a director's job. I am totally at the beck and call of my director. The director is the captain of the ship and we artistes are mere passengers. I do not even whimper if I am asked for 10 retakes for a particular shot. Nobody is perfect. But yes, I request my director to change the lines as and when I feel that Kamal cannot be speaking like this. I have been playing Kamal since the past two years now, and I know which dialogues will distance him from the audience. Like, if the director asks me to overreact against Parvati 'bhabhi' and Om 'bhaiya' once in a while, I tell him subtly that the viewers will not accept Kamal saying such stuff to someone whom he literally worships. Have you goofed up a shot anytime? Humans make mistakes and I am no exception. There's one goof up which will remain entrenched in my memory. In fact, it took place in Kahaani ....There's the scene where I am shown to have come back walking all the way from the Siddhi Vinayak temple after praying for Parvati bhabhi's health. I painted myself black and overdid the huffing-n-panting so much that I appeared to have walked down from Vaishnodevi in Kashmir. It became quite an embarrassment later. A lot of friends and relatives criticized me for this scene the next day. I wonder why the director did not notice it while taking the shot. Would you slash your fee if the producer insists? Once in a way, but only if the role is an exceptional one. Candidly speaking, either the role or the money has to be good before I sign on the dotted line. As I told you earlier, both the aspects of a career, creative and commercial, are equally important. But I'll have to be careful not to leak out my discount deal. Else every next serial/film maker will ask me for a discount (laughs). Money is important in life. Thankfully, I have never had any problem with my payments so far. Not even with Balaji Telefilms who are said to be bad paymasters? I don't know why these things are being said about Balaji Telefilms. I have always received my money in correct amounts and on time. Have you refused a role anytime? Earlier, I used to grab whatever came my way. But thankfully, now I can be choosy. Post Kamal Agarwal, I can't appear in forgettable roles. Don't expect me to do roles which are not an integral part of the script. Lately, I refused offers from UTV and Cinevista. I want meat, not fluff. Who are the TV actors you idolise? None. I have set my own standards on television which I am going to achieve. Mind you, those standards are very high. The people who come close to those standards are incidentally from Bollywood- Sanjeev Kumar, Agha and Mehmood. According to me, Agha had the best comedy timing. No comedian from contemporary times can match any of his performances. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? I see myself having attained my high standards. But destiny can be funny and cruel. So, wish me luck! Sudha Chandran Her public recital in Mumbai on 28 January , 1984, which heralded her comeback into the dancing arena after two years, was met with thunderous applause. Her success was followed by invitations for shows from all over the world, and she performed in several European countries, Canada and the Middle East. Films happened, and so did television. Today, she is the talk of the town, courtesy her innovative character of Ramola Sikand in Balaji Telefilms' late-night thriller Kaahin Kissii Roz. This dancer-turned-actor believes each country has its own heroes who have never accepted defeat. "Like them, I have always believed in asking - 'What next?', rather than, 'Why me?' If Helen Keller could overcome her handicap, so can I. The seed of achievement lies in the human mind. When this realization comes, there is no looking back. Once I decided that my handicap was not going to stop me from dancing, that was it," begins Sudha Chandran, but quickly adds before the first question, "Please don't imitate Ramola Sikand too much in letter and spirit both. 'Thoda chalega' but within the parameters of law. She is a cold-blooded murderess and you can't break the law." And for those who thought Kaahin...looked like it was winding up, here comes news that the serial has been given an extension. Excerpts from an interview with Vickey Lalwani. Was dancing your first love? Yes. I was a lot into dancing as a co-curricular activity. But academics was never put on the backburner. Being from a South Indian family, I was very much an academic-minded girl. I did my B.A. from Mithibai College in Mumbai and followed it up with M.A. in Economics. That year, I was the only student from my college and class who got a first division.. (pauses). Go on... Before that, a major tragedy struck my life. My parents and I had gone for our yearly 'abhishek' to the South. We were returning and our bus met with an accident. I suffered a fracture in my right femur. Since it was an accident case, we were thrown into a government hospital. Call it the doctor's mistake or my misfortune; they put a plaster on my fracture and the toe started getting black. Since my parents too had been injured in the accident, there was no one handy to take a decision and look into my condition closely. By the time my cousins came from Chennai, gangrene had set in. I was shifted to Vijaya Hospital in Chennai under the care of a leading orthopedic surgeon. He did his best for 20 days, but it became a question of life or limb. I had no other option but to get my right leg amputated. To change my mind, which obviously was almost shattered, I was taken for a holiday. I had finished my junior college at that time. Eight months later, I came to Mumbai. The Principal of Mithibai College, (late) Mr. C.T.Bhastana, allowed me to join F.Y.B.A from the middle of the year. Then? Well, that was a tough time. The body had lost the mobility. It took me two full years to get back to dancing. My dance guruji and a physiotherapist combined to put me back in action. And of course, my parents backed me to the hilt. But deep down in their heart, they used to be very upset. Believe it or not, my mother avoided going to the market simply because people would ask embarrassing questions about my future. Seeing all this, I felt terrible. I vowed to become someone big. "There is no Shashikala or Bindu in Ramola Sikand" Did you get into television to realize your vow? No. I hadn't decided which field I would hit. Destiny smiled on me without any effort. I deserved that, didn't I? Initially, the media helped me quite a bit. When I got back to dancing, a lot of journalists wrote my fight-back story in the papers. This caught the attention of filmmaker Ramoji Rao. He contacted the USIS in Chennai. They sent a fax to my father who was working for the same company in Mumbai. We flew down to Hyderabad. Initially, he just wanted to make a film on my life-story, with some other girl as the heroine. Later, he and even the director Srinivas thought that I should do the role. And you grabbed the offer? No. In fact, I asked for some time. They obliged. For three months, I kept quiet. My friends kept telling me that I was letting a golden opportunity slip away. A few days later, I gave in. Without Srinivas Rao, there would have been no Ramola Sikand. Why? That man is a genius. The moment he started directing me, I turned into wet clay. I learnt acting from him. He was my maker. The film did not do well in the first week but started picking up rapidly in the second. Initially, it was made in Telugu. Later it was dubbed in Malayalam and Tamil. Finally, it was remade in Hindi under the title Nache Mayuri. How did television happen? Television was never on my agenda, initially. After Nache Mayuri, I got films like Pati Parmeshwar, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Qaid Mein Hai Bulbul and some others, but was reduced to playing sister and 'bhabhi' roles. Most of these bombed. Suddenly, there was a lull. I was jobless. I shifted my attention down South. I did a few Telugu films which too were no great shakes. Then I met Sunil Mehta, owner of Cinevista Communications. I explained my predicament to him. He promised to call me after 15 days. I thought this was just one of those promises which was meant to be broken. But he cast me in a TV serial Saahil wherein I got noticed once again. From there, I went on to anchor the Adhikaris' show Shriman Shrimati directed by Rajan Wagdhare. Rajan was impressed by my wacky sense of humour and he repeated me in another serial Kabhi Idhar Kabhi Udhar opposite Shekhar Suman. Then came a stream of serials- Manish Goswami's Chashme Buddoor, Satte Shourie's Kaise Kahoon... Touch wood. "Even the way I outline my lipstick is being lapped up! " How did 'Kaahin Kissii Roz' happen? Balaji Telefilms was calling me for Kkusum and Kutumb. But I was very skeptical signing on their dotted line. I had heard a lot about their unprofessional delays in shooting schedules. The executive producer of Kaahin ..., Meetu, rang me to say, "Ekta is impressed with your acting in Kaise.... and she has a very exciting offer for you in one of her forthcoming serials Kaahin ...." I heard them out. I was surprised that they wanted me to play a hi-fi manipulative industrialist. In Kaise ...which they'd liked, I had played a down-market Muslim girl. I thought that Ekta was miscasting me. I told her that I needed some time to think over. She obliged. Later I told Meetu that I won't be able to work day and night as Balaji Telefilms do. I had heard about the long hours at Balaji Telefilms. Meetu squashed all my fears saying that those were all rumours, the truth is that they work on a 12-hour basis for three months, bank the serials in the process and then hit. So, life took a new turn? Dramatic turn! Fantastic turn! Like I was lucky to get Srinivas Rao teaching me to act in films, I was lucky again to get another genius, Homi Wadia, teaching me to act in TV serials. Wadia is the pioneer of the look, style and attitude of Ramola Sikand that people talk about today. Also, Shobha Kapoor's sister Nim Sood, the creative stylist at Balaji Telefilms, contributed a lot. Wadia directed the first 15 episodes of the serial. As days rolled by, we improvised. The special, queer 'bindis' and ornaments were not an original part of the look. Today, the same 'bindis' and jewellery have acquired the names of counters in many hi-fi shopping malls- Ramola Sikand 'bindi' counter, Ramola Sikand jewellery counter.! Even the way I outline my lipstick is being lapped up! Sarees are being sold under the brand name of 'Ramola Sikand'! Latest, husbands want their wives and children want their moms to look like Ramola! I am very proud of the fact that for the first time in India, a negative character is being followed so lovingly. Today, I am the talk at beauty parlours, kitty parties and even fashion shows. It's an author-backed role alright. What do you think has made this character tick? One, the fact that I am not wearing any garish make-up and mouthing dirty language; there is not an iota of cheapness in this character unlike that in the characters of vamps in films. Candidly speaking, there is no Shashikala or Bindu in Ramola Sikand. Two, the fact that I am a very flat character who expresses mainly through eyes; she doesn't get excited when she is happy, she doesn't get sad when her ruse fails, she doesn't get nervous before doing anything major. Three, the character has loads of sophistication and poise; I am very elegantly draped in chiffons and crepes. Four, the fact that this role is so different from what the people have read about me; my earlier real life projects me as a character who needs to be sympathized, and here I am making the others dance to my tunes. Five, there is a Ramola Sikand inside every human being who wants to be successful. "Working conditions in telly are good but not as luxurious as in films." Are you a spontaneous or method actor? Thankfully, spontaneous. I don't think that a method artiste can go far. You have to surrender yourself to the director; you ought to deliver his requirement as an output, then and there. Does he have time for the so-called methods? You will struggle if you are a method artiste if and when the director changes. Like, we have had three directors in Kaahin... far. We started with Homi Wadia, then we had Santaram Varma, now we have Naresh Khanna. The pace of thinking is different in all three. What is your USP? I can learn my lines in a very short period of time. I can give a very long shot without a mistake in reciting my dialogues. This plays a big role in enhancing my performance. Since I am not going to err on the words, I can concentrate fully on the expressions and body language. If you fumble, you are a candidate for retakes. What draws you to the script? Till now, I never had a choice. I signed whatever came to me. Not so long ago, I was struggling. But now, yes, I will be choosy. I certainly do not want to do another Ramola Sikand. Being repetitive on TV can be hazardous; you look stale. In films, it's just the opposite; you need an image to make a mark. If you experiment in films, you dig your grave. Strange, but true. Are you game to playing a goody-goody Tulsi or Parvati? Why not? Like Ramola Sikand, even those are author-backed roles. Thanks to Kaahin Kissii Roz, I am a very confident actor today. At the end of every day, I thank Balaji telefilms for helping me to regain my status as an actress. I can emote the positive emotions with equal ease and conviction. As an actress, I want to go through a gamut of emotions. Do you improvise on your scenes? When I rush back to see my scenes on the monitor, I have never felt dissatisfied with my performance. But if ever I am, I will never tell the director that he needs to take another shot. I am looking at the scene from an actor's point of view. He is looking at it from a director's point of view. Who is superior? Naturally, the director. He is the captain. I have no right to direct him. I have no right to trample on his ego. In fact, I must have blind faith in him. I don't even intervene on my lines. I am of the firm belief that every professional is here because he deserves to be. Is working on television easy? It's very difficult. Haven't we seen many actresses from the celluloid trying their hand on the tube and walking out in very bad shape? The deadline for submission of cassettes, every now and then, is very tough to abide by. Else, the channels don't take it lightly. We have to work 12 hours at least every day. We rarely take Sundays off. At times, this disturbs our family life. Working conditions are good but not as luxurious as in films. Stars walk into film shootings only when they are required. One scene can stretch to even three days. There is no Damocles' sword of a deadline hanging over your head. Besides, they sit in air-conditioned vans and take long breaks after virtually every shot. TV stars don't have time to laze and fool around; they have to be alert and quick. Everything is strictly work-oriented. Unlike film stars, TV artistes cannot be unprofessional. What's the biggest compliment you received on Ramola Sikand? Ramesh Sippy once told me, "The anxiety on the faces of the people when they see Ramola Sikand on television is similar to what they experienced when looking at Gabbar Singh in Sholay." What else are you up to? I am doing a play Kamaal Karte Ho Aap Bhi written by Imtiaz Patel. All those who have seen this play say I am like the Sweetie of Hum Paanch, a little less of 'pauli' in the head (smiles). Also, my husband Ravi Dang and I are producing a TV serial Waqt Ka Dariya directed by Ramoji Rao. He brought me to cinema and I share a special bond with him. Furthermore, we are planning a daily soap with Rao which should start rolling soon. Has dancing taken a slight backseat? Yes. Acting takes away quite a lot of time. But still I perform whenever I can. Apara Mehta Today, though, is another day. In heavy demand for TV serials, films and plays, she is all smiles. "There is light at the end of every dark tunnel," she quips. Better known as Savita 'chachi', she has become a household name- courtesy her colourful saris, big bindis and swaying walk in Balaji Telefilms Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (KSBKBT) wherein she plays wife, daughter-in-law, and now grandmother. As of now, she has completed over 2700 episodes of Hindi TV serials! Add to this her episodes of Gujarati TV serials and Gujarati-n-Hindi stage shows, and you wonder where she acquires her fitness levels from! She takes after her mother, Mandakini Mehta, who was a Gujarati theatre artiste. Recently when she was in Ahmedabad, she had a pleasant surprise when she discovered that she was the great-granddaughter (thirteen generations down) of the character Kusum in the famous Saraswati Chandra written 200 years ago. Over hot cups of tea at her Santa Cruz residence in suburban Mumbai, she relives her past, underlines her present and dreams about her future in a tete a tete with Vickey Lalwani. You married quite early. Right? Right. I married Darshan Jariwala, actor and stockbroker, when I was just 18. But life didn't change at all after marriage. My mother-in-law, Leela Jariwala, who was a stage artiste as well, would keep a hot cup of tea ready when I returned from my rehearsals. My in-laws were so good that even when my daughter was born, they encouraged me to work. So you are basically a theatre artiste? Yes. My roots lie in Gujarati theatre, which is very professional. You are paid well, and you cannot afford to be anything but perfect here. To improve my craft, I learnt classical singing and Kathak. How did you get into the performing arts? It all started when I compered Santakukdi on Doordarshan for just a lark. I was in the tenth standard at that time. Thereafter, I began getting offers of acting in Gujarati plays. And then? A few years down the line, I began getting offers of acting in TV serials- Gujarati and Hindi. I had the time and inclination, and the support I told you about. Frankly, EMHSK which ran for four years set the ball rolling. Paro's 'chulbuli' character became a favourite of every viewer. Alongside, before and after, I did many serials like Dillagi, Alpviram, Hum Hain Anari, Love Marriage, Chandan Ka Palna... and of course, KSBKBT which is still on air. " I act mainly through my eyes. And I can cry one moment and laugh in the very next- without any retakes" How much has KSBKBT given you? KSBKBT has given me the recognition which was eluding me so far. And what recognition! If I would work 20 years in films, I would not have achieved so much. Wherever I go, I am recognized - be it in a party or a rickshaw. But I am enjoying it. Who doesn't like to be famous? People find my body language attractive and talk about my so-called sex-appeal, even though I play a grandmother. Mihir's death in the serial certainly helped the serial to become the talk of the town and the cast members to become known faces. The day Mihir died, I became the mother of every man in this country. I got thousands of letters condoling me on my fictional son's death! Who designed your look in KSBKBT? Myself. Basically, I have always been a 'saree' and 'bindi' kind of woman. So I told the production guys that this was my domain. As the story jumped 20 years ahead, I even told them that I'll be wearing the 'bandh gala' blouses from here on. The 'bandh gala' makes one look a little broader. Even the glasses which I have started wearing have been suggested by me. They said I should use those only when I was shown reading something, but to look my age in the serial, I have kept them on throughout. How did KSBKBT happen? Ekta and Shobha Kapoor first offered me the role after seeing me in EMHSK. Since I was already doing a daily soap, I wasn't too sure whether I'd be able to give quality time to another daily soap. And I was apprehensive of playing a mother to a 30-year old Mihir. But when I learnt that I won't have to look worn out and frail, I agreed. There has been a lot of criticism against the serial, that most of the elder generation has not greyed. I can't fathom why common sense is becoming so uncommon these days. The Virani 'parivar' is a big industrialist family in Mumbai. Don't many ladies from industrialist families in Mumbai dye their hair? Tell us about your theatre assignments. Well, I have just came back from Dubai doing a Gujarati play Kanch Na Sambandh. Then there's another Gujarati one Adhura Thoy Madhura (ATM) directed by Feroz Bhagat, and I am also doing its Hindi equivalent Kuch Khati Kuch Meethi (KKKM). Rajesh Khanna had decided to play my husband in KKKM. He rehearsed for six months but could not do it. There is a big overseas market for Gujarati and Hindi plays. We (the Gujarati community) take to plays very seriously. For us, stage acting, or rather acting in any media, is serious business. "As a theatre artiste, you have to be confident all the time. You have no time to fumble, stumble and pick yourself up" How did 'Devdas' happen? And how was the experience? Devdas literally fell into my lap. One fine morning I got a call from Sanjay Leela Bhansali who asked whether I could dance. When I told him that I was a proficient Kathak danseuse who had learnt Kathak for 10 years from Asha Joglekar (mother of actress Archana Joglekar), he did not even audition me for the role. He told me that he and his mother watched EMHSK and KSBKBT regularly and that was enough. I was overwhelmed that everyone present from Shah Rukh Khan to Madhuri Dixit or for that matter Birjumaharajji, who I revere, recognized me instantly though I had never met them before, thanks to EMHSK and KSBKBT, I guess (smiles). Other films? Besides Devdas, I acted in Priyadarsan's Hindi film Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar as Suniel Shetty's sister. I was pitted in the film opposite my real life husband! Then I did a cameo as a call girl in the controversial film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (which I did for Niraj Vora, a good friend). It was nice working with Salman Khan in the film. He offers me a lift in his car. When I offer myself to him presuming he has set out in search of a call girl, he tells me that he does need a call girl but one who can bear a child for him since his wife Rani Mukherjee has not been able to conceive. When that film was released, I received a lot of flak for that 'pallu'-down kind of thing. People complained 'Eh Tulsi, dekh teri saas kya kar rahi hai'. How do you define acting? Acting is a way of life. One can learn a bit of the techniques and craft involved, but one can never learn acting per se- because acting is purely inborn. Acting can never be methodical, it has to be spontaneous. Also, one's IQ plays a big role in deciding whether you are a good actor. The more intelligent you are, the better you'll be. You should be able to understand your scene to portray exactly what the writer has visualised and what the director wants out of the script. Acting cannot come by training. I don't do any homework. I feel and react, not pause, ponder and dramatise. All those who come from so-called acting schools are certainly not superior than those like me who believe that acting requires no method. Let me elaborate on this. Yes? Let me forget the flak I received for Chori Chori Chupke Chupke character. Believe me, I would still love to play a prostitute in a full-length role. That would be a mind-blowing challenge to emit the highest spontaneity. As a woman from a well-to-do family, howsoever hard I try, I would not be able to put myself in a prostitute's shoes. So whatever output I would deliver would be 100 per cent what I feel at that point of time when the director calls 'Action'. "People find my body language attractive and talk about my so-called sex-appeal, even though I play a grandmother" Do you think that being a stage artiste has helped you on television? Yes. But many stage artistes have goofed up on the tube. A few things have to be picked up, that's all. You can't carry the same format of stage in toto into television. For example, if I am doing a weepy scene on stage, I will go full blast so that the last bencher can hear me. The same scene requires the same feeling but very little of body movements and loud voice when enacted for television. Then I would be using more of facial expressions, mainly my eyes- simply because the TV camera focuses on your face. Have you refused mouthing some lines or doing a particular scene? At times, yes. Say in KSBKBT where we have had different directors, it becomes imperative to tell the new director if and when a particular shot is not in sync with the earlier part of the story. Your strengths as an actress? I have a good control over my eyes. I can move, expand and contract them as per the requirement of the scene. I act mainly through my eyes. And I can cry one moment and laugh in the very next- without any retakes. I have never used glycerine even when I had to weep, leave aside cry. And, I have not to be told that where I ought to look when the camera starts rolling. Your weaknesses as an actress? My husband and daughter would definitely tell you those, not I(laughs). But honestly, I have learnt to camouflage those weaknesses, and those cannot be easily seen unless the audience is watching with a magnifying glass! What gives you most satisfaction- theatre, television or films? Theatre. Theatre satisfies the creative actor lurking inside me and whets my appetite instantly. It draws the best out of me, and I still get an immense thrill when the curtains go up. Above all, theatre improves my confidence levels all the time which helps me as a person. As a theatre artiste, you have to be confident all the time. You have no time to fumble, stumble and pick yourself up. And between the positive and negative characters? I prefer the negative one. It has more scope to perform. Honestly, it has become a bit boring after I became goody-goody in KSBKBT. The negative character is the propelling force behind every story. Without the negative character, any story would come to a standstill. Some roles you would like to play on television? I would love to a play a socialite in a Kittie Party type of serial. I have no inhibitions as an actor. "Negative character is the propelling force behind every story" Your co-stars with whom you share a good rapport? Smriti Malhotra (aka Tulsi of KSBKBT). We often discuss our scenes before doing. And boy! She is a great performer! Is the KSBKBT innings never going to end? At least not for another 18-24 months. The serial is holding the viewers' interest. Remember, it started on the same day as Kaun Banega Crorepati! Boy! Haven't we come a long way? How satisfied are you at this point in your career? Quite satisfied. I am getting lots of work, but I am not going to pick up anything and everything. I am not overtly ambitious as an actor who would go to any extent to grab a role by undercutting her price or cutting some one else's role. Recently, I turned down an offer to act in a comedy TV serial after having shot for the pilot; I realised that there was no humour in it. I want to earn name and respect as an actor by playing mind-blowing roles in all the three media - films, television and stage. The order of mentioning them does not indicate my preference. I refused Yash Raj Films 'Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai'. They were casting me opposite Deven Varma, for whose age I wouldn't have qualified even as the third wife. The role was eventually done by Bindu which I think was fair enough. I turned down Karan Johar's forthcoming home production 'Kal Ho Na Ho' because the role had no substance. At the end of every day, my family should feel proud of me. And finally when I am sitting on a rocking chair, I should feel having achieved something in life. Mandira Bedi Ravi Behl As a child , Ravi practised dance in front of the mirror and was often reprimanded by his mother for wasting his time . Today , he is the co- director and co-host of the popular dance based show Boogie Woogie which has created history of sorts on television. A self-professed bathroom singer who confesses he has had no professional training in music, Ravi has released an album called Ladkiyan and is currently hosting a song based show called Hai Na Bolo Bolo on Star Plus. A man who believes in realising his dreams and stretching his creativity as much as possible , Ravi met up with Indiantelevision.com's Agnes Sebastian and spoke about his plans for the future. Excerpts: What prompted you to take up the offer of anchoring 'Hai Na Bolo Bolo'? Have you taken any professional training in music? To be very frank, I really don't know how I landed with Hai Na Bolo Bolo. I was told that Karan Oberoi who earlier anchored the show with Nausheen was having trouble with the dates, so I was called. I love music, so I opted to do the show. As far as music training goes, I am a self professed bathroom singer( laughs ). Most of the songs on the show are ones anyone would have grown up listening to, so one does have a vague idea and for songs one is clueless about - you can hum along. It is a chilled out Sunday morning show, wherein the basic aim is to have fun. You need to be impromptu and have good vibes with the audience. How different is anchoring 'Hai Na Bolo Bolo' when compared to 'Boogie Woogie'? Naved and I have been anchoring Boogie Woogie for eight years. It is but obvious that we work like a team and share a common chemistry. We don't have a script for the show; we just go in and have a good time, which is why our antics seem effortless. Hai Na Bolo Bolo on the other hand is a new show and moreover having a lady co- host does have its limitations (laughs). But, she's a lovely person and we get along quite well. Naved Jafri and your name seems to have become synonymous with 'Boogie Woogie'? What are the new things to look out for in the show? Boogie Woogie the dance based show has been on air for the last eight years. The show has undergone a complete overhaul and will air with a new look this month. We are currently holding auditions in Kolkata and Jamshedpur, following which the finals will be held in Delhi , Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. We realised that people who were really keen on participating in the show were unable to do so due to various constraints like distance, the expenditure involved etc . So we decided to reach out to them instead of the other way around. "You need to be impromptu and have a good vibe with the audience" What inspired you to come up with a show like 'Boogie Woogie'? Javed Jafri, Naved and I realised that while there was a lot of music related stuff on television, there was practically nothing on dance. So we decided to do something about it and Boogie Woogie was born. The show primarily showcases and taps the tremendous dancing talent in our country. The name was coined by Naved, after the popular English song. Sony liked the concept and since then, there has been no looking back. We've been around for nearly eight years now, so I guess that speaks for how popular the show has been. " No one can be greater than the show. The show should reign supreme" Recently, Sahara TV announced that it would be airing a similar dance based show called 'Grooves'? What are your views about that? Boogie Woogie is a unique show and thus the question of competition doesn't arise at all, if that's what you are trying to imply. Moreover, Grooves is a clone of Boogie Woogie(BW). One can only imitate an original. We have had many clones of BW like Kyaa Masti Kyaa Dhoom, Razzmatazz to name a few. I believe that imitation is the greatest form of flattery . Actually, I would have been worried if Boogie Woogie didn't have a clone. Which other shows have you worked on ? Naved and I did a show called Paisa Vasool for SAB TV which unfortunately had to be called off due to some reasons. We are currently working on another show for Sony, but it's still too early to reveal details... Producers and directors complain of channel interference. What is your say on this issue? I would not necessarily term it as channel interference but as creative inputs (laughs). Though there is no doubt that one has to pay heed creative inputs, we ensure that while doing so we don't compromise on the essence of the show. Nothing, rather, no one can be greater than the show. The show should reign supreme. What are your views about the other shows currently on air? Well, if you are referring to soaps on air they are good examples of how effective glycerine and loud make- up can be. If you've seen one , you have seen them all. The channels are churning out the same old stuff. As for the sitcoms, I think they are the saddest thing I have ever watched on television . There is a dearth of good comedy shows on television today. So have you given up acting altogether ? No, I haven't . I have decided that I will do only those roles that excite me. It should be something up my alley. I would love to play interesting characters and thus broaden my horizons. I want to stretch my creativity as much as possible. "I would not necessarily term it as channel interference but as creative inputs" What is your mantra for a successful life? Well, I believe that you should be earnest as far as your work is concerned. Be practical, focussed and do what you want with your complete heart and soul and success will definitely be yours. Mandira Bedi She wanted to do something big and be talked about. The Max cricket offer to compere the World Cup 2003 landed into her lap, and she grabbed it with both hands. Today, she is the talk of the town! Naturally she is smiling from ear to ear. Shows, functions, interviews, film-offers... she is jet-setting all over the place. A classic case of 'she came, she saw, she conquered...' Mandira has been shooting for Kyunki... till 8.30 pm when Vickey Lalwani called her for an appointment, but she agreed to see him rightaway. "No problem. I am always a bundle of energy. Come along to my new home in Bandra,," she says. Excerpts from a freewheeling conversation with the Extraa Innings hottie. Retrace. How did 'Extraa Innings' happen? I have always been a cricket buff. I had flown down to Sri Lanka to watch some cricket. I know quite a few people in Sri Lanka. All my shows have done exceedingly well there. The people from Sony saw me there. When I told them that I had come to watch cricket, they were surprised that love for the game had brought a woman from India all the way to Sri Lanka. They put me at the back of their mind from that time, I guess. A few days later, I was at a press conference at the Sony office for the Papa Ban Gaye Hero show. Someone from Max asked me to come over into their section. I was asked 30 questions on cricket. I answered 23 correctly. Some days later, I was auditioned once again. A month later, I was on. I badly wanted this project. If I am not mistaken, you showed your cards to a tarot card reader? Yes, I had my cards read by the tarot card reader Maa Prem Ritambhara. I am a very superstitious person. But Maa is an accurate predictor. We asked her many times about the India-Australia final, but everytime she predicted an Australia victory. Maa predicted that this World Cup compering would be a big breakthrough for me. And she was proved right in the first six or seven days of the tournament! Everybody was talking about me more than the game! Before the Cup, I was a known face on the road but not to this extent. Today, almost every Tom, Dick and Harry stop in their tracks when they see me. The tournament has opened a lot of new doors for me. Film offers are coming in heaps. Was it easy? Or hectic? Easy? Are you kidding? When I signed on, I had a totally different picture of what it would be like. I figured I'd do my bit in the studio, then head back to the hotel, go back to the studio again for a bit. It was nothing like that. I had to be up at 5.00 am and be ready for the car which would come to fetch me at 6.45 am. From 7 am to 7.30 am every day, the director would brief us. Then from 8 am to 10 am, we were on without a break. After 10 am, we used to have a heavy breakfast. Thereafter, we had to remain in the studio almost throughout the day. It could rain any moment, a wicket could fall anytime, we had to be ready. Hectic alright, but the entire stint was a learning curve for me. This one has broadened my horizon, changed my outlook towards life, and brought a new dimension in my body language. "Maa Prem Ritambhara predicted that this World Cup compering would be a big breakthrough for me. And she was proved right in the first six or seven days of the tournament!" What made you click? You tell me! I really don't know. All I can say is that the Max trick to rope in more women to see the tournament worked. The objective of putting me right in front of, or between, those men was just that. And look at the extent to which the ruse clicked. A recent survey has revealed that 46 per cent of the viewers were females. Picture courtesy The Tribune "The Max trick to rope in more women to see the tournament worked. The objective of putting me right in front of, or between, those men was just that" Didn't your costumes play a big role? Oh God! I don't know why so much is still being spoken about my costumes. If you notice, I wore a saree in all the India matches. Coming to the other fixtures, I just wore what I wear in my day-to-day life. What you saw on television is the usual stuff I wear even otherwise. It was not imposed on me by Max, nor I had deliberately worn it to attract attention. Today, virtually every educated and modern girl dresses up smartly. Most importantly, no attire worn by me was brazen. There are so many females in our film and telly world who wear stuff which send shock waves of higher intensity. Ruby Bhatia who compered the Champions Trophy in Colombo showed more skin than I did in the World Cup. Why single me out? Which commentator's company did you enjoy the most? Tony Greig. He was knowledgable as well as humorous. Cricket is sport as well as entertainment. The idea of Max, therefore, was to keep it light. Did you enjoy the SMS messages on you? Surely not. When I saw the first one, I was terribly upset. But then I realised that I had come into limelight. This was the time to be positive, not negative. So dismissing them, I moved on. They are circulating even now. Just the other day, a friend sent me one such. Have you signed a Tamil film? Thank god that you asked me this question. I have not signed Parthipan's film Lingam. I wish that the sections of media who have reported this had checked with me. After the competition was over, I came back to India. Parthipan sent me an air-ticket for Chennai where I was supposed to meet him. I had no qualms about exploring on what I was being offered. I have no inhibitions on working down South. Forget the song-n-dance in those films which have to be introduced for commercial purposes, but don't forget that those guys make the most sensitive and meaningful cinema. It's much more real than the cinema here in Mumbai. The directors down south dwelve deeper into the human psyche. However, Parthipan's offer did not excite me at all. The role had hardly any substance; it was not having to move down South with bag-n-baggage. He was supposed to play the lead opposite two heroines and he wanted me as one of those. He even said that he would like to click some pictures of mine to judge the look I would portray. But I politely turned down the offer. Within no time, it was splashed left, right and centre that I was doing Lingam. I rang up to ask him and he clarified that he had told a section of the press that he was considering me for one of the female leads. Apparently, some other section of the press must have distorted the original version to create sensationilism. Even Maddy ( R.Madhavan) sent me a message asking whether I was doing Lingam. Frankly, I haven't signed any film as yet. I am contemplating certain offers which look meaty. But I am not in a hurry. Will you leave television if films envelop you? Never. Television has given me whatever I have right now. All those actors who leave television and take to Bollywood at the first opportunity are committing a big mistake. Unlike films, there is consistency in television. "Most importantly, no attire worn by me was brazen. There are so many females in our film and even telly world who wear stuff which send shock waves of higher intensity" Mandira with Shekhar Suman in a television serial There were rumours about Yuvraj Singh and you... (interrupts) The garbage in this country is increasing. The press is always on the lookout for a male and female talking to each other. The moment they spot it, the next day it's a page three item. I am not denying that Yuvraj is a friend. I have known hm for a couple of years now. In fact, we are buddies and he even shares his secrets with me. Can't a man and woman be just friends? Give me a break! What is this controversy about the Sikh community being upset with you because of your dogs? Bombay Times came down to ask me questions. They wanted to know what my dogs were called. For fun, I told them that one was 'Ruger Bedi' named after me and the other one was 'Buster Kaushal' (named after my husband Raj Kaushal). Actually, their names are just Ruger and Buster. Someone from Delhi in the Gurdwara community picked it up and wanted to sue me for naming my dog as Bedi. Our Guru Nanakji was the first Bedi. Anyway, now the controversy is thankfully over. I have rendered an apology in the papers. I am a very proud Bedi Sikh. I haven't changed my surname after marriage. If I call my dogs as 'Bedi' and 'Kaushal', I call them out of affection; they are like family. How does it feel to be back in 'Kyunki...'? It's a very cohesive unit. That is the key to this programme's popularity. The new track of Mihir-Tulsi-Mandira is very exciting. People are curious to know what will happen next. Will Tulsi forgive Mihir for that one-night stand with Mandira? Will Mihir accommodate Mandira in his life? Will the obsessive Mandira let go of Mihir? God forbid, but what would you do if something happened to you in real life, like it has happened to Tulsi in 'Kyunki...'? I cannot answer this question unless and until something like this really happens. Pray that it never does. Ronit Roy An assortment of jobs later, this Ahmedabadi boy had just settled into Bollywood when his debut film completed a silver-jubilee run in almost every city except Mumbai. Disappointment loomed large but he overcame the odds to start his own security agency for providing safety options to some of the top stars. Great idea! And after all, he had to keep the kitchen fires burning! Today though, he is the talk of the town for quite something else - as Rishabh Bajaj in Kasauti Zindagii Kay and Mihir Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi!! The way people have responded to his portrayal of Bajaj and Mihir is unprecedented. People see him on the streets and stop in amazement. Married women kiss his hand and their husbands don't seem to feel jealous. He goes for a friend's party and is accosted by all kinds of people. Apparently, they think he has done a terrific job in both serials. (And he has. Even though he is morally in the red, his gamut of emotions especially in Kyunki... make you sympathise with his character.) Shooting at Indiclay in Goregaon, he takes time off in his make-up room to talk to Vickey Lalwani. Let's begin with a cliched question. Did you always want to be an actor? (smiles) Yes. My childhood was spent in Ahmedabad. Friends in school used to tease me, 'Go to Mumbai if you want to be a hero. What are you hanging here for?' I came down to Mumbai when I was just a teenager. I worked with Subhash Ghai for a year. I knew him, and in fact, was living in his house. Initially, he dissuaded me from joining the film world, saying that this field is very, very 'speculative'. By 'speculative', he meant that there is no guarantee. You may be riding the crest one moment, you fall into a trough the next. I agree with him. Bharat Bhushan, who was the best actor of yesteryears according to me, died without anybody near his bedside. I know of a famous former actor who has been seen begging on the streets, these days. Raj Kiran was reduced to driving a taxi. Anyway, I worked as a management trainee at the Sea Rock Hotel in Mumbai. A year later, my dad expired. Something snapped and I quit my job. I went back to Ghai and joined him as an assistant director. During that stint, I realised that I'd need at least 10 years before I become a force to reckon with in direction. I could not wait. I joined Sanjeev Sharma and Mansoor Khan's company 'Pilot Communications' to learn cinema, which was a faster process than learning direction. Later, I branched out to become a freelance editor. I edited lots of stuff for Ghai and went on to set up his video division too. I was involved with the setting up of Drishti India Limited. I directed 25 episodes of the revamped Chitrahaar on Doordarshan and even some commercials. I even modelled in some ads. How did your debut film 'Jaan Tere Naam' happen? While I was an editor, I was just pressing buttons. Due to a lack of mobility, I had put on lots of weight. The makers auditioned me, but I got bounced. They went on to cast someone else. When they took that guy's re-audition, they found that he had a problem with dialogue delivery. I was recalled and asked to reduce my weight. That flick did fairly well. What happened after that? After my debut film was a hit, I did 12-13 other films, but due to various reasons they did not work. Some films were wrong, some people were wrong. There was nobody to advise me. I could not control the situation. I decided to start anew. I started my own security agency called 'Ace Security and Protection'. On the acting front, I decided to exercise patience and restraint and waited for the right opportunities to come by. Looking back at those 12-13 film projects which I did, I analyse that I was doing a very boring job. I rarely had the chance to be myself and experiment coolly, unlike what I do on television these days. Television gives you more creative freedom than films. Tell us about 'Ace Security and Protection'... Lagaan was my first big break, so to speak. It was the acid test of my potential. There was a scene that needed 10,000 people running behind Aamir Khan. I had to arrange the 200 trucks bringing in those villagers, who were all understandably very excited to meet Aamir. Now, those people were supposed to stop at a particular point, but they didn't. I almost panicked but we managed to bring the situation under control. We whisked Aamir away to a safe location on the sets and then had him speak to the 10,000 villagers, all bursting to catch a glimpse of him. Besides, making sure that they all left the location satisfied and did not create any ruckus was also important. Thereafter, we handled major films like Dil Chahta Hai, Yaadein, Na Tum Jano Na Hum, Saathiya and Armaan. I have a wonderful equation with Aamir Khan, courtesy Lagaan. He is extremely cooperative. It is interesting to provide security for stars and productions, who understand the imperative value and need for security. Hrithik, too, is extremely cooperative. He is always ready to listen and act according to the needs of the security personnel and the situations that arise. Likewise with any other star I have been chosen to cover and protect. All my boys are trained in martial arts and other security techniques. Besides, they have been trained to deal with the stars and situations. And then came the role of Rishabh Bajaj? After three years of business, Balaji Telefilms called me first for Kammal, then they wanted me to take up Rishabh Bajaj's role in Kasautii.... Then came Mihir Virani in Kyunki.... And the rest, as they say, is history (smiles). "There were some people who even told me that I won't be able to make Mihir as famous as Bajaj. Today, Mihir has raced ahead of Bajaj" How does it feel to be a TV artiste? Grrrrreat. Today, a TV artiste is far more popular than a film one. Believe me, I have barely slept in one week, in the days when both these Balaji serials needed me to shoot, come what may. And I have no complaint about the physical exertion. If you are on a high, as I am after playing the two characters of Bajaj and Mihir, you won't feel the exertion. If your mental make-up is great, your physical stress can never take the better of you. And before you ask me whether my family life gets disturbed due to odd hours of work, let me say 'Yes, but that's the name of the game. You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you get something like this, you "have to" play it. You can't be riding such a popularity wave and dictating your work terms of limited hours of input (smiles). The character of Mihir had already been played by two actors (Amarr Upadhyay and Inder Kumar) previously. What made you accept the role? After playing the character of Bajaj, I wanted to do something which would be bigger than Bajaj. Balaji and the directors of the serial had turned Mihir's character into an icon. When I was offered this role, I was given only four hours to decide. There were too many expectations, but I took it up. There were some people who even told me that I won't be able to make Mihir as famous as Bajaj. Today, Mihir has raced ahead of Bajaj. I have always performed better in pressured situations. Tell me, didn't I live up to my tendency even this time? (smiles). Whom do you lean on while working? I depend on the director and my co-stars. Even if the script is terrific, a bad director can easily screw it up. Also, you build a certain degree of competition which infuses enthusiasm when the co-stars are competent. Their positive energy rubs off on me. In Kyunki..., this happens when I am with anybody, be it Smriti Mahotra/Apara Mehta/ Aman Varma or anyone else, as I believe that each person in this serial has something special about him/her. Frankly, I don't consider myself a very good actor (smiles). What I mean is, I have to work very hard to get it right sometimes. What style of acting do you follow? I have my own style. I study the character sketch of the person I am playing. Even if we are not given the full script, at least I know what is going to happen in the next few days. I put myself in the character's shoes, and thankfully, now maybe this is God's gift, I begin to experience the feelings he must be undergoing during that period. This helps a lot. As for where I join from (like when I joined Kyunki... midway), I go into the history of the character. I went into all the finer details of Mihir's early episodes. How different is a daily from a weekly? Both are totally different ball games. Firstly, a daily is a more hurried job than a weekly. Secondly, a daily is more of a writer and actor's medium than a director's medium. Please don't read between the lines. I am not saying that every Tom, Dick and Harry can direct a daily. This is because a daily is a medium of basically compact shots wherein every artiste begins to talk, walk and eat his role. If you do the same thing again and again, you obviously become perfect. So what counts is how the writer turns and twists the plot and introduces new tracks so as to keep the viewers' interest alive. On the other hand, an artiste does not get into the skin of the character in a weekly as much as he does in a daily. Therein, a director has to get into the act to ensure that he/she sustains an artiste's style and emotions. Nobody wants a goof-up of sorts wherein the artiste appears different and ill-at-ease every successive week. Do you know that I did not use a drop of glycerine in the recent 'mandir' scene wherein I broke down expressing my helplessness to Shakti Anand? "Hysteria (created by the turn in the story)would not be a satisfying experience for me. I am enjoying the fact that my performance is doing the talking" Has the Mihir you portray now reached the popularity level enjoyed by Amarr Upadhyay? I don't want to reach Amarr's stage. That was a hysteria created by the turn in the story. If you remember, even Bajaj's death sometime ago did create some hysteria, which of course did not match the one that happened when Mihir died. It even happened (the death of the hero)in Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand recently. When Mihir died, the hero on Indian television had been killed for the first time. That hysteria would not be a satisfying experience for me. I am enjoying the fact that my performance is doing the talking. Are there any similarities between Bajaj and Ronit? There are a few similarities. Bajaj must be very well brought up, just like me. But there are a whole lot of differences too. Unlike me, Bajaj is very ruthless when it comes to business decisions. I have never snatched other people's work or played dirty politics. I have immense faith in destiny. Whatever I deserve, I will get. Nobody can take that away. Generally, Bajaj dons three-piece suits, while I can be seen in a casual jeans and T-shirt. "To an actor, it should not matter whether he is playing an older person or a younger one" How closely do you identify with the "new" Mihir, I mean, the Mihir who had a one-night stand with Mandira? (laughs). I think the earlier Mihir was entirely white. There is no person on earth who does not have shades of grey. So, I am enjoying this track where he committed one mistake in his life. Even Lord Ram faltered when asked his wife Sita to undergo 'agnipariksha' (ordeal by fire)! We are mere human beings!! Don't human beings cheat on their wives? Besides, I am 37 and I am playing someone who is about 45. So there's not much of a gap. Actually, I have a 12-year old daughter. It's easy to put myself into Mihir's shoes and think of Sumeet Sachdev, Hiten Tejwani, Ritu Chaudhary, or any other youngster, as my own child. In fact, often, even after the shooting is over, you'll see me calling them 'beta' ! But doesn't the fact that both your characters require you to play more than your age, worry you? Give me one good reason as to why it should cause a worry. I think that your entire perspective about a character changes when you think that you are a star. I want to be an actor, and in fact, I am an actor. To an actor, it should not matter whether he is playing an older person or a younger one. If you are 37, how can the hero too in the story be 37? A story is fiction. It can turn even the other way round if and when it goes into a flashback. For example, I recently went Australia to shoot for Kyunki... where I had to play Mihir as he was 20 years ago. Here my character became very much younger than what I have been portraying currently. So, any day, any time, you might be playing someone much younger. In fact, this unpredictability is exciting. The key is to adapt to the character along with the changes introduced in it. That is the essence of acting. How do you handle the fan following? It is flattering. I feel satisfied to have reached this stage in my life. I take all this appreciation as my reward and it inspires me to do better work. But I am not going to get carried away. I have seen the rough-n-tough side of life, when my films failed to click at the turnstiles. Now that your television career is really looking up, are you getting any film offers? Yes, I am getting film offers. In fact, I have accepted a couple of them. But please, I don't want to talk about it now. It's early days. Surely, I am not doing all of those. Why only films, I have even refused at least six serials! In most cases, the makers were not good. TV programme-production is a funny business. Often the maker is not financially sound, but yet wants to kick off. Consequently, the production values are not maintained and the artistes suffer. For no fault of theirs, they look insipid and jaded when they come on screen. Having done great characters like Bajaj and Mihir, I have to be careful. I don't want to play a sidekick. The role must be weighty and exciting. Most importantly, I don't want to be repetitive. Since December 2002, I have been offered three films which required me to play another Bajaj. I refused. I don't want to play the prodigal son again either. There is so much more that I can do. Cezanne Khan Cezzane Khan. Arguably the best looking guy in telly world, he made his debut in Hasratein - the superhit serial of the 90s. He followed it up with small roles in Dushman and Palchchin. He could have been easily forgotten had he not landed a role in Ekta Kapoor's Kalirein. So impressed was the Queen of Soaps by his performance that she offered him the lead role in Kasautii Zindgaii Kay. It's said that initially, people who hadn't seen him and just heard his name mistook him for Hrithik Roshan's wife Suzanne Khan. But today, there's no identity crisis. His face is everywhere- on hoardings, at bus stops, railway platforms and also on car stickers. Excerpts from an interview with Vickey Lalwani: How did you get into television? I had finished my B Com and was supposed to join NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies) for my MBA. Out of the blue, I was offered a film. You look quite sweet. I am not surprised. Then? Well, I had to make a choice between the two- MBA or film. I opted for the latter. I thought... (pauses). "TV has given me money and adulation both. Still, I would like to do films at some point of time" You thought that you could make a career in films? Sort of. You see, I had done two years of theatre during my college days. So I knew what acting is all about. It was not a case of 'a man jumping into the swimming pool without knowing the 's' of swimming' (smiles). Which film was that? Unfortunately, it got shelved. Please allow me to keep the name of the film under wraps. So how did film aspirations change tracks? Anubhav Sinha offered me Hasratein and I took it up. Soon enough, I got Neena Gupta's Palcchin, Balaji's Kalirein. Also I did a bit of acting in B.R.Films' serial Dushman. During those days, Ekta Kapoor was doing the auditions for Kasautii Zindagi Kay. The rest, as they say, is history (smiles). Looking at the tough times which today's heroes are facing, aren't you happy that you jumped into television at the right time? It has given me money and adulation both. Still, I would like to do films at some point of time. Have you had any formal acting in training? Just my theatre experience is seeing me through. Once you act on stage, you shed all your inhibitions and become a natural artiste. I never joined any professional acting class. Most of my friends used to say, "If you want to swim, don't take the longer route. Jump right into the deep end. Take a few shots. The verdict will not take long to be out." Without training, is it easy to perform the difficult scenes? My biggest teacher on the sets is Dipak Kazir. He helps me out if I am not getting it right. We have a great equation going. Can you elaborate on the help provided by Kazir? As and when I don't get it right, Kazir helps me to get into the mood of the scene. Then, he tells me the dialogues I am supposed to emphasise on. The results are there for you to see. The director Ravindra Gautam is a genius, but just in case he is not present on the sets, Kazir can do the trick for me. What about the romantic scenes with Shweta Tiwari (Prerna)? Are you comfortable with those? Yeah. No problems. That reminds me about the 'Best Jodi' Shweta and you received at the 'Star Parivaar' nite. Congrats! Thanks. Besides, last year I received two awards one of which was the 'Most Poular TV Actor' in ITA and another as the 'Best TV Male Personality'. Romance takes me to female fans. Do you have plenty of them? Yup. They call me up from far and wide. At times, they go over the top and I refuse their calls. And do you know that sometimes, I have even got calls from another number saying that the girl whom I avoided has slashed her wrists? Are you comfy with emotional scenes? Very much. I love doing the scenes where I have to portray anger. How easy it is to memorize the lines? Cool. I am not ruffled. I am quite good at it. Most of the times, I don't goof up my dialogues. And thank God, else that would really exasperate me. I am very particular about rushing to the monitor as soon as my scene is over. I carefully observe each and every movement. If something nags me, I clarify with my director. I can't get into the next scene until I am satisfied with my previous one. "If you are trying to ask me whether I would allow my wife to work in her previous husband's office, the answer is a vehement 'no'" Which are the actors you look up to? Smriti Malhotra Irani is damn good. Dipak Kazir is an actor par excellence. Urvashi is great. In the film industry, Sanjeev Kumar is my all-time favourite. Amongst the younger crop, Akshaye Khana and Kajol are highly talented. Going to KZK. God forbid, but if you met with such a situation in real life - you marry a girl and discover that her previous husband who was believed to be dead is still alive and kicking? Anurag and I have only two things in common. One, like Anurag, I don't believe in moving ahead in life by trampling on someone's toes. Two, like Anurag, I am very honest; I hate lying, and of course therefore, I hate liars. But... (pauses) But what? But if you are trying to ask me whether I would allow my wife to work in her previous husband's office, the answer is a vehement 'no'. I would be a possessive lover. I am confident that I would be able to convince her of what I wanted. How else would you be bothered? Let's put it this way. I wouldn't bother a damn. I have married her and she is mine. Any other difference between Anurag and you? My way of talking and dressing is totally different. So you are dominated by the channels when it comes to attires, etc? That's a wrong way of looking at it. It's just that I am not bothered of how I look and what I wear. My entire being goes into the character. But looking at the recent trends, I guess I must start becoming conscious of what I wear and how I look. Don't worry, you look good anyway. Who is the lucky girl in this handsome guy's life? I am single and ready to mingle (winks). Your forthcoming projects? I am doing another project for Ekta, wherein I die after a few episodes. It's a great role. I am getting lots of films, these days. So what's preventing you from cashing in on it? I don't want to move ahead in life by trampling on one's toes. It is my responsibility to take KZK to its logical conclusion.
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TV Actors Interview
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nice blog.. garjiya mandir story
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